Sad learnings from Twitter

I sometimes think that I'm in touch with things going on in the world, that I keep up-to-date on issues that face the Church and our nation, and that most people think pretty much like I do.  Oh, I realize that there are people who hold some different values than I do, of course.  We are a diverse species, we human beings.

Yet I confess that I was shocked this past Friday night to learn how much of an insulated part of the world I inhabit.  The Rev. Dr. Margaret Aymer Oget, Associate Professor of New Testament at the Interdenominational Theological Seminary in Atlanta, led a conversation in advance of the Synod Assembly that was held Saturday and Sunday at Stony Point Center.  She called her presentation, "Unpacking Ferguson," and she invited the 40 or more people in attendance to talk together and reflect together about the still-pervasive issues of racial tension and violence in our nation, as it has been most recently symbolized in the events in Ferguson, MO this past August. Some of the things that Margaret point out in her presentation...

·      "We must confront the social sin of racism head-on."

·      "The death of Michael Brown is just one symptom of the bigger problem."

·      ProPublica reported that black teen males are 21 times more likely to be shot dead by police than white teens.

·      "Racism is not about an insult. It's is about causing fear of having to bury your child at age 15, 16, etc."

·      Parents of black children have to have "The Talk" with them. It is about survival wisdom. "The Talk" tells young black youth how to act when confronted by a police officer:

o   Say "Sir" (usually the case as most officers are male).

o   Keep your hands visible and by your side at all times.

o   Smile.

o   Be respectful.

o   Make no sudden moves.

I was on Twitter, sharing with people who follow our Presbytery's Twitter feed (@CayugaSyracuseP, if you'd like to follow along as well), the things that were being shared that night. At one point I wrote that after learning that Michael Brown's body lay uncovered in the street for four hours on that hot, August day, many people were reminded of the very public lynchings of blacks that happened, especially during the first half of the 20th century.  What I wrote was this: "Brown's corpse left on the street for 4 hrs raised old images of public black lynchings." Now, one of the things about Twitter is that people can, and often do, respond to what others write.  Several people around the country were joining in the online discussion.  Most of the people I knew; some I didn't.  But all of the comments were supportive, reflective, thoughtful, insightful... until... until...

Out of nowhere I received these responses to that one "tweet" I wrote about Brown's body lying in the street:

·      "Was he in the street or in a tree? The 2 are very different things!"

·      "Possibly, because the lynch mob of residents became too violent & wouldn't allow the body to be removed for 2 hrs." (my note: which was, of course, not what happened.)

·      "This may be the dumbest thing I've ever read."

Wow!  I was floored.  I was shocked.  I was angered.  I was befuddled.  I was (almost) speechless.  During a time of sharing at that event, I read to the group these responses. There were audible gasps when I read these responses.

I realized then just what a "bubble" I live in, how insulated my world is from people who make cruel, thoughtless, hate-filled, racist comments.  I was saddened that there are people who hold such views.  I stopped and I prayed for them.  And then I gave thanks to God for the people with whom I live and work, for our Presbytery and our congregations, for those who faithfully witness to the Gospel of Jesus day in and day out, going about their lives and shining the light of love and compassion, of concern and justice, wherever they are.  It made me realize that even the most serious disagreements that we sometimes have with one another don't rise to the level of ignorance and hate that came across my Twitter feed.

What can we possibly do to respond to such people in a way that might make any kind of difference?  And more broadly, what can we do to address issues of racism and violence in our society and in our world?  What can our local worshiping communities do?  What can our Presbytery do?  We shared some ideas together on Friday night, but the thing that struck me as the most important to remember was this simple thing that Margaret told us:  "Just pick one thing... just one... and do it."

We are not alone in this world.  We are not left to our own resources alone.  We are children of God... claimed by God... followers of Jesus... filled with the Holy Spirit!  We can't do everything to help be "the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world," as stated in our Book of Order (F-1.0304).  But we can do some things... even if it's only one thing.  And that can sometimes make all the difference.